also: べんざいせん
large Japanese junk; bezaisen
Historical term for a type of large wooden sailing ship used in the Edo period for coastal transport, similar to a 千石船. Often encountered in historical or museum contexts.
See also: 千石船
In the Edo period, bezaisen played an active role in shipping along the Sea of Japan coast.
A model of a bezaisen is on display at this museum.
千石船 is a broader term for large Edo-period cargo ships; 弁財船 is a specific type of 千石船 with a distinctive square stern.
Standard kanji spelling for this historical ship type.
Alternate reading べんざいせん; less common than べざいせん.
Variant kanji spelling; 才 is an alternative character for 財.
Alternate reading べんざいせん with variant kanji.
The name 弁財船 (bezaisen) is said to derive from 弁財 (bezai), an old term for a type of ship's stern, but the exact origin is uncertain.